Greene Looks to Retain Fastest-Man Title

JOHN NADEL AP Sports Writer

Published 12:00 am, Saturday, May 31, 2003

Maurice Greene is eager to retain his title as the world's fastest man. Teenager Allyson Felix could be on her way to someday becoming the world's fastest woman. And Ana Guevara looks to extend her world domination in the women's 400 meters.

Those three headline Sunday's Home Depot Track & Field Invitational _ the inaugural event at the $150 million Home Depot Center on the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus.

Six of the nine entries in the men's 100 meters have been timed in under 10 seconds, including Greene, who's personal best of 9.79 in 1999 stood as the world record until Tim Montgomery ran a 9.78 in September.

"There's nothing special about running under 10 seconds," Greene said.

A three-time world 100 champion, Greene wasn't anywhere close to that figure in the Oregon Track Classic two weeks ago when he finished third behind Kim Collins and John Capel.

"My body just did not want to go," Greene said of his performance in Oregon. "There are no excuses, it just wasn't happening. The season is just beginning."

Asked what he expected Sunday, Greene replied: "My expectation is to win with a very fast time."

Perelman called the track "blazing fast."

"The surface is an Italian-designed track _ the surface of choice for most of the last 20 years for the Olympics and World Championships," he said.

Felix, who graduates from Los Angeles Baptist High next week, has been compared to Olympic champion Marion Jones. Felix broke the 23-year-old world junior record for the 200 meters with a time of 22.11 seconds four weeks ago in Mexico City.

"I look up to her but I'm not trying to be the next Marion _ I am simply trying to be myself," the 17-year-old Felix said. "I just hope to set a personal record in the 100 this weekend."

Guevara hopes to become the first Mexican woman to win a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. She was unbeaten last year while becoming the top-ranked quarter-miler in the world and was clocked in a 49.34 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic last weekend _ fastest time in the world this year.

She finished fifth in the Sydney Olympics three years ago. Australia's Cathy Freeman, who won the gold medal, was fifth in the Prefontaine Classic.

A parade of Olympians will be held as part of the opening ceremonies to the meet. Among those expected to participate are Peter Clentzos, a pole vaulter for his native Greece while attending Southern California in the 1932 Games, and Lou Zamperini, a USC distance runner who competed in the 1936 Games and was later a prisoner of war during World War II.